BMJ  2003;327 (9 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7410.0-a

Supervised heroin prescription helps addicts

Supervised prescribing of a combination of methadone plus heroin is feasible, safe, and effective. Methadone maintenance is an effective intervention for heroin addicts, but not all addicts benefit from this treatment. Van den Brink and colleagues (p 310) conducted two randomised controlled trials among 549 treatment resistant heroin addicts to compare the effectiveness of methadone plus heroin with methadone alone. Psychosocial treatment was also offered in both trials. Compared with participants allocated to treatment with methadone alone, those who received methadone plus heroin had better physical health, mental status, and social functioning, including substantial reductions in criminal behaviour.

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Medical prescription of heroin to treatment resistant heroin addicts: two randomised controlled trials

Wim van den Brink, Vincent M Hendriks, Peter Blanken, Maarten W J Koeter, Barbara J van Zwieten, and Jan M van Ree
BMJ 2003 327: 310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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